TCD hemodynamics findings in the subacute phase of anterior circulation stroke patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy

Despite mechanical thrombectomy, the prognosis for many patients with anterior circulation ischemic stroke (ACIS) remains poor. This retrospective study reports consecutive mechanical thrombectomy procedures for ACIS at our hospital over 4 years. Hemodynamics were explored using transcranial Doppler ultrasound. The functional outcome was assessed using the modified Rankin scale. A total of 121 eligible cases were included: 61 (50.4%) exhibited good outcomes (modified Rankin scale score <= 2) by day 90. The logistic regression analysis showed that ipsilateral middle cerebral artery (iMCA) systolic blood flow (SBF) (OR = 0.983, 95% CI: 0.969-0.997, P = 0.014), preoperative National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)score (OR = 1.160, 95% CI: 1.067-1.261, P < 0.001), intracranial hemorrhage after therapy (OR = 19.514, 95% CI: 4.364-87.265, P < 0.001), and Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (OR = 0.639, 95% CI: 0.416-0.981, P = 0.040) were independently associated with prognosis. The iMCA SBF and preoperative NIHSS score were significantly predictive of a good outcome in the receiver operating characteristic analysis. In conclusion, elevated iMCA SBF might be a prognostic indicator of a good 90-day outcome following endovascular treatment in ACIS patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy, but large prospective studies are mandatory to validate the findings of our study.